How Sudden Weather Changes Cause Drain Blockages in Stockport

If you live in Stockport, you’ll know how quickly the weather can change, from sunshine to a downpour in minutes. We might be used to it, but our drains often aren’t. Heavy rain after a dry spell is one of the most common reasons we’re called out to blocked drains in the area. Here’s why it happens and what you can do about it.

Dry spell, then a downpour

During dry weather, leaves, soil, litter and other debris build up on roofs, driveways and around gullies. When heavy rain finally arrives, it washes all of that into the drains in one go. Gully traps fill with silt, pipes choke with leaves, and drains that were coping fine suddenly back up or overflow.

Freezing and thawing

Sudden temperature changes can damage drains too. Water that freezes inside a pipe expands, and repeated freezing and thawing can crack older pipes or open up joints. Once a pipe is damaged, debris snags on the defect, roots can find their way in and blockages keep coming back. Read more about frozen drains.

Dry ground and roots

In long dry spells, tree and shrub roots go looking for water. Clay soils also shrink as they dry out, which can move old rigid pipes. Both can leave a drain with cracks or open joints that only show up as a problem when the rain returns.

Signs your drains are struggling after heavy rain

• Gullies overflowing every time it rains heavily
• Water pooling on the drive or patio that’s slow to clear
• Gurgling from sinks or toilets during storms
• Smells from drains after a dry spell
• A manhole filling up with water

What you can do

• Clear gully gratings of leaves and debris, especially in autumn
• Don’t sweep soil or leaves into gullies when tidying the garden
• Keep fat and wipes out of your drains, so there’s less for debris to stick to
• Have drains checked if they’ve struggled after extreme weather

How we help

When a drain blocks, high-pressure jetting is often the best fix. It clears grease, silt, roots and debris and leaves the pipe properly clean. Our drain unblocking prices are fixed: £75 + VAT for rodding and plunging, and £150 + VAT for jetting and machine work. Fixed prices apply Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Evenings, weekends and bank holidays may cost more, and we’ll tell you the rate before we set off.

If problems keep coming back after bad weather, a CCTV drain survey will show whether the pipe has been damaged by roots, ground movement or frost. We’ll explain what caused the problem, so you know how to stop it happening again.

Weather taken its toll on your drains?

Don’t wait for things to get worse. We’re open 24/7 across Stockport, Heaton Moor, Reddish and the surrounding areas. Call 07375 521027 or WhatsApp us.